Signal device



D. coRcoRAN y SIGNAL DEVICE April.. s, 1930.

med Jun 25, '1 929 2 sheets-shea l 1 INVENTOR ofwe/ Corcoran A TTORNE YSApril 8, 1930. D. P. coRcoRAN 1,753,364

sIvGNAL DEVICE Filed June 25. 1929 2 sheets-sheet, 2\

FIE E A TTORNE Y Patented` pr. 8, 1930` UNITED y. STATES Pilvllt:NTnOFFICE DANIEL 1. conconAN, or GRIDLEY, cnnironmn sieNAL DEVICEApplication filed .Tune 25,

My inventionA relates particularly to devices adapted to be secured tovehicles for incontemplated course 'tained in the embodiment oftheinvention shown in the drawings, in whichf Y l Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of the signal device of my invention, portions of theindicator being broken away. v Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe signalde- Vice of my invention, the casing being broken away. f l f Y Fig. 3is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line.4-4

of Fig. v1. l p

Fig. 5 is a detail of the connection between the lindicator andcylinder, portions being shown in cross section on the line 5` -5-ofvFig. 1. v

Fig. 6 is a diagram disclosing the actuating valves and theirconnections. n

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the valve, portions being disclosedinfcross section on a median plane. y

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the valve portions being shown in sectionon the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9 ofFig. 7. e

In its preferred form, the signal device of my invention is used with anevacuating means and includes a cylinder having portions adapted to beselectively evacuated and a piston operable in the cylinder for movingan indicator to any one of several different indicating positions.

In the form of the invention disclosed in the drawing,`I preferablyprovide a mounting base 6 adapted to be securedbyperforatedclosedcylinder 9 is an arcuate cap 11 secured -yoke 21 is fastened tomove with theaxle 17 1929. Serial No. 373,499.

lugs 7 and'8 to any suitablesupport which preferably yis afc'zo'nveni'entV exterior portion of an automobile .orfsimilar vehicle.Cooperating with the base 6 to provide an ento the base by suitablestuds 12. The enclosure 9 is substantially air tightand receives apiston 13 formed of two leaves 14 and'l adapted'to be pivotally mountedon an axle 17 journalled in opposite sides of the cap 11.A Theradialextremity of thepiston 13 preferably is'provided with packing 18 toafford a seal 'against communication between opposite sides- .of thepiston. n e. f

In order'to afford, any indication 'of the selected course for-thevehicle to which the defvice of my invention is attached, IV preferablyafix an indicator to move in'k conjunction `with the pistonl. In thepresent instance, a

and extends around the.. cap A11. Rotatably mounted on the yoke is anindicium 22 prefervablyV in the form of a blade having a spindle 23journalled in the yoke. rIhe spindle suitably 'projectsto form' a pin 24received ina cam k7.5

track or slot 26y afforded inthe periphery'of 'the cap 11.*The vpin24fthus acts-as a reinforcement? andas an additional. support for theindicium-22. The pin is also preferably 'connected by an extension 27,a'sshown in 180 Figs. 2 and 5, to a camlroller 28 which is 'adaptedtofmove in the groove 26. In'oneposition ofthe indicium 22,` the camroller 28 and the pin 24 are disposed'in a transverse extension 29 ofthegroove 26 so that the plane s 'of the ind'iciurnl 22 alsoS contains theaxis of the axle 17 .l The described arrangement is such that when theindicium is in the position 'showninFigs land 2, 'its edge is all thatis: visible to an observer.

Y I-Iowever, whenthevv piston 13-is rotated with its axle 17, and

the vindicium'is raised to the light line positions as shown in Fig. 1,the roller 28 follows diciumis visible to an observer.

For variably positioning the piston and, in consonance therewith, theindicium 22 1n any one of several positions to indicate the vm9 6 by bybleed holes 33 lon opposite sides ofthe piston 13 to afford restrictedcommunication between the interior of the cylinder 9 and the atmosphere.v Y v Y lVhen one of the conduits 32 is connected to the meansvforevacuation, the interior ofthe c linder 9 is evacuated. This occursbecause t e capacity'of the evacuating means and its connection Vissuliicient to withdraw more air from the' interior of the cylinder 9than can gain access thereto through the respective bleed holes 33. Suchbeing the case, the piston 13 is moved in the direction of the lowestpressure. This .movement is facilitated by theingress of air on theother side of the piston through the associated bleed hole 33.

The piston revolves about its axis 17 until it overlies the' aperture 31through which the egress of air is taking place. The positioning ofythepiston over the aperture prevents further evacuation of the selectedregion of the cylinder, and, furthermore, the action yof the evacuatingmeans tends to hold the piston exactly over the connected aperture. Inthis Vfashion the piston may be moved to overlie any selected one of theapertures 31 and will remain in such position during the vconnection ofthe selected aperture with the means for evacuation.

- Since the normal position-of thepiston 13 is as shown in Fig. 3 Ipreferably aord an aperture 34 likewise connectible to the means forevacuation for returning the piston to its normal position. This returnmovee ment is accomplished by disconnecting the particular one of theapertures 31 which is operating and connecting the interior of thecylinder 9 through aperture 34 with the evacuation means. Y

As a means for selecting the desired one of the apertures 31 or 34 forevacuating the selected portion of the interior of the cylinder 9 Ipreferably provide the valve body disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Thisvalve body preferably comprises a block 36 having clamps 37 adapted tosecure the block to the steering column or other suitable point ofattachment of an automobile. The block carries a plurality of transversepassages 38 for the reception of valve plugs 39. Each of the plugs 39carries a hand wheel 41 for convenient manual operation. The plugs canalso be provided with projections 42 adapted to contact stops 43 forpreventing undue movement of the valve bodies. The valve bodies 39 areduit 51 leads from lthe means for providing evacuation through channels52 to branch conduits 53 and 54 in each of the valves. The valvevplugsthemselves are provided with intercommunicating passages 56, 57 and 58arranged preferably as shown in Fig. 6. The

passages 56 are adapted to be continued by conduits v59A from each ofAthe valve plugs leading to the selected one of the apertures 31.

The passages 58 are. likewise adapted to communicate with conduits 61leading to a common duct 62 communicating through aperture 34 with theinterior of the cylinder 9.

, The three valves, as, indicated 'in Fig. 6,'`

can assume the three positions shown. The uppermost valve in the figureshows com- .munication between the source ofevacuation through theconduits 51 and 52 and the branch 54 with .the passages 57 and 56leading to a conduit 59 and the lowermost aperture 3l. The passage 58 inthis valve position is out ef communication with the passages 53 and 61and the flow through the valve plug is to evacuate the portion of thecylinder 9 represented by the lower aperture 31. The middle valve plugin Fig. 6 is shown as positioned with the conduit 52 connecting throughbranch 53, and passages 57 and 58 with the exhaust line 61 Awhich leadsthrough conduit 62 to the aperture 34. In this position of the valvesthe piston 13 is returned to its lowermost or normal position. The lowerplug in Fig. 6 is arranged with none of its passages in communicationwith either the exhaust or z evacuating ductsA so that there is nocommunication whatsoever through this valve plug and with this positionof the valve, all of the passageways controlled thereby are out ofoperation. It is to be understood thatA normally at least two of thevalve plugs are in the position disclosed in the lower part of Fig. 6while one of the other valve plugs is operatedv either to the positionAshown in the upper portion of Fig. 6 or to the position shown in themiddle part of Fig. 6.

When the signal device of my invention is installed on an automobile,for instance, the vehicle operator can variously position the indicium22 for indicating the projected course of the vehicle, by the propermanipulation of the hand wheels 41. After completing the particularmaneuver indicated, he

can, by suitable manipulation of the hand wheel 41, restore the signalto its normal, de

ica

whereby said piston and said indicator are selectively positioned, andmeans for revolving said indicator about its own axis during thepositioning of` said indicator. l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DANIEL P. CORCORAN.

ing signal. Since the controlling device and the signal itself areseparate they can be placed remote from each other for the greatestconvenience in installation and for the greatest visibility.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the form of thesignal device shown and described herein, as the invention, as set forthin the following claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms. Y

I claim:

l. A signal device comprising a base, an indicator adapted to movepivotally on said base to any one of a plurality of selected positions,and 'means for revolving said indicator on its own axis during saidpivotal movement.

2. A signal device comprising a base, an arm pivoted on said base andadapted to rotate about said pivot to any one of a plurality of selectedpositions,fan indicium rotatably mounted on said arm, and means forrotating said indicium on said arm during the rotation of said arm aboutsaid pivot.

3. A signal device comprising a base including a cylinder, a pistonpivoted on said base and adapted to move in said cylinder, a pluralityof ducts communicating with said cylinder, means for selectivelyconnecting said ducts to evacuate selected regions of f said cylinderwhereby said piston is seleca follower on said indicium, and a cam onsaid cylinder engaged by said follower for rotating said indicium duringmovement of said arm. Y Y

.5. A signal device comprising a cylinder, a piston pivotally mountedkin said cylinder, an indicator adapted to pivot with said piston, meansfor evacuating said cylinder for selectively. positioning said piston,and meansk for revolving said indicator on its own axis during a pivotalmovement of said indicator.

6. A signal device comprising a cylinder, a piston pivotally mounted insaid cylinder, an

indicator affixed to said piston, a plurality f of ducts communicatingwith said cylinder, means for selectively connecting said ducts toevacuate selected portions of said cylinder

